Vessel sealer and divider with captured cutting element

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an end effector assembly including first and second jaw members and a knife body. The first and second jaw members have a curved configuration and are disposed in opposed relation to each other. One or both of the jaw members include a ledge, a first knife channel and a second knife channel. The ledge is disposed along the length of one of the jaw members. The first knife channel is defined along the length of a portion of the ledge. The second knife channel is defined along the length of a portion of the jaw member, and below a bottom portion of the ledge such that the ledge covers a portion of the second knife channel. The knife body includes a knife blade at a distal end thereof and a recessed portion proximal to the knife blade.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An end effector assembly, comprising:
 first and second jaw members defining a centerline, having a curved configuration, and disposed in opposed relation to each other, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, at least one of the first and second jaw members including an electrically conductive sealing surface, each of the first and second jaw members including an electrode plate and a ledge, at least one of the ledges disposed along a length of at least one of the first and second jaw members, each ledge including a top portion and a bottom portion; 
 at least one of the first and second jaw members including:
 a first knife channel defined along a length of at least a portion of one of the ledges, and 
 a second knife channel defined along at least a portion of the length of at least one of the first and second jaw members, and below the bottom portion of a first one of the ledges such that the first one of the ledges covers a portion of the second knife channel; and 
 
 a knife body including a knife blade at a distal end thereof and a recessed portion proximal to the knife blade, wherein the knife blade is configured to travel within the first knife channel and the recessed portion is configured to travel within the second knife channel, wherein as the knife blade and the recessed portion travel within respective first and second knife channels, the knife blade and the recessed portion are positioned to move from a first position aligned with the centerline of the first and second jaw members to a second position laterally offset from the centerline of the first and second jaw members. 
 
     
     
       2. The end effector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the knife blade is configured to cam along the first knife channel and the recessed portion is configured to cam along the second knife channel under the bottom portion of one of the ledges. 
     
     
       3. The end effector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the knife body is translated along an apex of the first and second jaw members such that the knife body flexes to maintain a radius to reduce friction along a wall of at least one of the first and second knife channels. 
     
     
       4. The end effector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the bottom portion of one of the ledges captures the recessed portion of the knife body to prevent the knife body from dislodging in an upward, distal direction and out of the first knife channel. 
     
     
       5. The end effector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
       6. The end effector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the top portions of the electrode plates oppose each other and are configured to contact and grasp tissue when the first and second jaw members are approximated towards each other in the closed position. 
     
     
       7. The end effector assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a sharp cutting edge is defined on proximal and distal portions of the knife blade such that when the knife blade is translated in a distal direction, the distal portion of the knife blade cuts tissue a first time, and when the knife blade is translated in a proximal direction, the proximal portion of the knife blade cuts tissue a second time. 
     
     
       8. The end effector assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the sharp cutting edges on the knife blade are disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the knife body, the angle being non-perpendicular to, and non-coaxial with, the longitudinal axis of the knife body. 
     
     
       9. An end effector assembly, comprising:
 first and second jaw members defining a centerline, having a curved configuration, and disposed in opposed relation to each other, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, 
 each of the first and second jaw members including:
 an electrode plate for sealing tissue including a top portion and a bottom portion; and 
 a ledge; 
 
 at least one of the first and second jaw members including:
 a first knife channel defined along a length of at least a portion of one of the electrode plates; 
 a second knife channel defined along a length of at least a portion of one of the first and second jaw members, the one of the first and second jaw members disposed below the bottom portion of one of the electrode plates; and 
 
 a knife body including a knife blade at a distal end thereof and a slot defined therein, the slot configured to span along at least a portion of a length of the knife body, the knife body including a top portion disposed above the slot, and a bottom portion disposed below the slot, wherein the knife blade is configured to cam along at least one of the first and second knife channels and the slot is configured to receive at least one of the electrode plates, wherein as the knife blade cams along at least one of the first and second knife channels, the knife body is positioned to move from a first position aligned with the centerline of the first and second jaw members to a second position laterally offset from the centerline of the first and second jaw members. 
 
     
     
       10. The end effector assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the knife body is translated along an apex of the first and second jaw members such that the knife body flexes to maintain a radius to reduce friction along a wall of at least one of the first and second knife channels. 
     
     
       11. The end effector assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the top portion of the knife body cams below the bottom portion of the electrode plate of the first jaw member, and the bottom portion of the knife body cams below the bottom portion of the electrode plate of the second jaw member. 
     
     
       12. The end effector assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the slot is configured to capture a portion of at least one of the electrode plates and the bottom portion of at least one of the electrode plates cams along at least one of the top and bottom portions of the knife body. 
     
     
       13. The end effector assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the knife blade translates in a distal direction through the second knife channel to thereby cut tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
       14. The end effector assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the slot captures the bottom surface of at least one of the electrode plates to prevent knife splay and maintain the first and second jaw members in the second, closed position. 
     
     
       15. The end effector assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members. 
     
     
       16. An end effector assembly, comprising:
 first and second jaw members disposed in opposed relation to each other, at least one of the first and second jaw members moveable from a first, open position to a second, closed position for grasping tissue therebetween, 
 each of the first and second jaw members including:
 an electrode plate for sealing tissue including a top portion and a bottom portion; and 
 a ledge; 
 
 at least one of the first and second jaw members including:
 a first knife channel defined along a length of at least a portion of one of the electrode plates; 
 a second knife channel defined along a length of at least a portion of one of the first and second jaw members, the one of the first and second jaw members disposed below the bottom portion of one of the electrode plates; and 
 
 a knife body including a knife blade at a distal end thereof and a slot defined therein that is proximal to the knife blade, the slot configured to span along at least a portion of a length of the knife body, the knife body including a top portion disposed above the slot, and a bottom portion disposed below the slot, wherein the knife body includes a proximal portion and a distal portion, the knife body having a tapered configuration such that a width of the proximal portion is larger than a width of the distal portion. 
 
     
     
       17. The end effector assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the proximal portion of the knife body cams the bottom portion of one of the electrode plates as the knife body is translated in a distal direction and maintains the first and second jaw members in the second, closed position. 
     
     
       18. The end effector assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the slot of the knife body includes a distal portion that tapers towards a proximal portion such that as the knife body is translated in a distal direction, the slot exerts pressure towards inner edges of the electrode plates. 
     
     
       19. The end effector assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the first and second jaw members is adapted to connect to an electrosurgical energy source to communicate energy to tissue disposed between the first and second jaw members.